By Mark Baber
May 10 – The Chris Giwa faction of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), acting in accordance with a widely held interpretation of a recent court ruling, attempted a take-over of the NFF Glass House HQ on Friday, before being asked to help police with their enquiries and then pledging to return on Monday.
The battle for control of the NFF took on a physical manifestation on Friday as Giwa and his board attempted to take occupation of the governing body’s HQ, before being escorted from the building by police – under arrest by initial accounts – but more probably just for questioning. Released after two hours, Giwa told reporters: “It has been in the news for over a month that we got a ruling from the Federal High Court, Jos restoring all the orders granted us since 2014 to date. And that gives me the right and permit to be at this place. By the grace of God, I will resume here fully and address a full media briefing by Monday (today).”
Giwa’s interpretation of the Federal High Court ruling – that it effectively restores him as the legitimate NFF president – appeared to be shared by the “other” NFF president Amaju Pinnick (pictured), when he wrote to FIFA demanding action against “government interference” and it also seemed to have been accepted by FIFA when they warned on April 11 that with regard to the ruling of the Federal High Court in Jos which “apparently nullified the elections of 30 September 2014 of the Nigerian Football Federation,” the decision, if implemented, “would likely be considered as an interference in the internal affairs of the NFF and the case would be brought to the highest authorities of FIFA for consideration of sanctions, including the suspension of the NFF.”
The situation is complicated as an alternative interpretation of the Jos ruling, supported by some commentators and also (arguably) by a video interview with the registrar of the Jos High Court, argues that the court had no intention of deposing Pinnick and has effectively simply agreed to relist the case to consideration.
Another interpretation, strongly supported by Pinnick’s lawyers, suggests that since the appeal, a motion to vacate the order and a stay-of-execution were filed on the same day as the judgment, the status quo remains and Pinnick remains the legitimate president until the case is considered.
Under its previous General Secretary, Jerome Valcke, FIFA ratified the election of Amaju Pinnick in September 2014 but did not recognise the election of Chris Giwa on 26 August 2014 although many agree there are major questions over whether due process was followed in both instances.
With Pinnick significantly weakened by Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the African Cup of Nations, it remains to be seen if Giwa can take over de facto control of the NFF headquarters, whether the NFF staff, who have been placed in an extremely difficult position, cooperate with Pinnick or Giwa, how the local authorities will react and at what point FIFA may choose to impose a ban.
With the NFF Headquarters surrounded by police, no attempt was made by the Giwa faction to “storm” the building, with Gongnews reporting Giwa had been warned off by federal authorities, whilst Pinnick himself decided to fly off to Mexico for the FIFA Congress, no doubt keen to shore up his position with the new FIFA hierarchy.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1715027565labto1715027565ofdlr1715027565owedi1715027565sni@r1715027565ebab.1715027565kram1715027565